Separable fastener receiver part



July I, 1969 J, J, MCCARTHY 3,452,403

SEPARABLE FASTENER RECEIVER PART Sheet of2 Filed June 13, 1967 INVENTOR.J

52 John J. McCarthx} July 1, 1969 J MCCARTHY 3,452,403 I SEPARABLEFASTENER RECEIVER PART Filed June 13, 1967 Sheet Z of .2

W 32 g6 46 68 J 50 I \A- I NVENTOR.

United States Patent US. Cl. 24-211 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA rugged receiver part for a plug-and-socket type separable fastener,comprising an annular body member having at its inside a heavy cross pinpassing through and anchored to its walls, said member having atransverse bottom wall with a drainage opening, and having at its top acast cover plate and hinge which are protected against damage by beingrecessed in the top end of the body member and by being substantiallyflush with the uppermost outer portions of the top end of said member.The peripheral portions of the cover plate are sturdily supported, andthe hinge plate thereof is also strongly supported in addition to theseparts being protected by recessing, thereby making for a reliable andbreakage-resistant assemblage.

Cross references (1) US. Patent No. 2,948,383.

(2) US. Patent No. 3,253,310.

(3) US. Patent No. 3,280,439.

(4) Copending application of John J. McCarthy, Ser. No. 643,605 filedJune 5, 1967, and having common ownership with the present application.

(5) Copending application of John J. McCarthy, Ser. No. 542,938, filedApr. 15, 1966, now Patent No. 3,362,- 050 and having common ownershipwith the present application.

(6) Copending application of John J. McCarthy, Ser. No. 390,617 filedAug. 19, 1964, now Patent No. 3,345,- 711 and having common ownershipwith the present application.

Background This invention relates to separable fastener devices of thetype comprising cooperable plug and socket parts, the latter beingcommonly termed receivers; more particularly the invention relates tothe receiver parts of such devices.

Heretofore, many receiver parts consisted of open sockets havinginternal shoulders, cross pins and the like which were subject toweathering, dirt, corrosion, damage from contact with exterior membersor other adverse influences, all tending to render the receiver partinoperative. In cases where openable covers existed, these were oftendamaged rendering them difiicult to open or function as intended. Thus,prior receiver parts were at times not fully reliable, particularlyunder severe or adverse conditions of use.

Summary The present invention obviates the above disadvantages anddrawbacks of prior receiver parts of fastener devices, and an object ofthe invention is to provide a novel and improved fastener receiver parthaving an openable, protective cover extending across the socketthereof, which receiver part is especially sturdy, reliable, andresistant to damage and malfunction. This is accomplished by theprovision of a tubular metal body member of heavy wall section, havingits outer end recessed at the interior, and by the provision of heavy orthick metal cover and hinge component which set into said recess of theouter body end to be fiush therewith and to be protected thereby.

Preferably the cover and hinge components are made of castings, withsturdy cooperable portions and relatively heavy sections, saidcomponents further being adequately supported by non-yielding backingsurfaces to better resist contact with or blows from external objects.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved receiver partas above, which is of simple construction, involving relatively fewparts so constituted as to be economically fabricated and assembled,thereby to effect a low manufacturing cost; to provide a receiver partin accordance with the foregoing, which is easily and quickly operatedeven by unskilled personnel and under adverse conditions; and to providea receiver part as characterized, which is small and compact, relativelylight in weight, and adaptable to a variety of uses.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the closed receiver part of a separablefastener as provided by the invention, said receiver part being mountedin a deck plate. Only a small portion of the deck plate is shown in thefigure.

FIG. 2 is a diametric section through the receiver, taken on the line 22of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the receiver of FIGS. 1 and 2, per se.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section, taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the hinge plate component of the receiverpart.

FIG. 6 is a diametric section of the hinge plate, taken on the line 66of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an axial sectional view of the receiver part in the opencondition, and of a cooperable coupling or plug part positioned forinsertion in the receiver part.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the receiver part and a side elevationalview of the coupling part, both still in separated condition, thesection being in a plane at to the plane of FIG. 7.

The coupling or plug part illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 and designatedgenerally by the numeral 10 is described and claimed in detail in mycopending application, Ser. No. 390,617 filed Aug. 19, 1964, andentitled Releasable Mechanical Coupling. Only a brief description of thestructure and operation of this coupling part will be given herein,inasmuch as complete details are available in this identified patent.

The coupling part 10 comprises an outer tubular body member 12 which isrigidly aflixed to a strut member 14 and which slidably carries arelease collar 16 acted on by a helical compression spring 18. Therelease collar 16 is coupled, by means of a cross pin 20, to an inner,locking tubular member 22 which is axially or longitudinally slidable inthe outer, body member 12. The inner locking member 22 has a pair ofstraight slots 24 located diametrically opposite each other, and theouter or body member 12 has a pair of diametrically opposite transverseslots 26, said sets of slots being generally registered with each otheras illustrated.

The transverse slots 26 are somewhat in the nature of a screw helixgroove, and can accommodate a cross pin 28 in an annular receiver memberor body 30 when the tubular member 12 is inserted therein and given aslight twist. Such accommodation presupposes no interference with thecross pin 28 on the part of the inner locking member 22, and this can beeffected by virtue of such member being held in a retracted position byforce exerted from right to left on the release collar 16. The lockingmember 22 however is shown in the advanced position, wherein the notchedportion thereof can also accommodate the cross pin 28 after the latterhas been fully inserted in the transverse slots 26. Such conditionprevents relative turning movement of the plug body 12 in the receiver30 whereby the body is locked against removal from the receiver.

Considering the locked, assembled position of the plug 10 in thereceiver body 30, it will be understood that retraction of the lockingcollar 16 from right to left, will retract the locking member 22 andremove the interference or contact with the cross pin 28. Thereupon theplug body 12 can be withdrawn from the receiver body 30, ac companied bythe aforementioned slight turning movement. Additional details of theconstruction and action of the fastener part 10 can be had by referringto the above identified patent.

The receiver part embracing essentially the present invention,comprising the annular body 30 and cross pin 28 are given a generaldesignation herein by the numeral 32.

Considering now FIGS. 1-6 the part 32 is noted .to be of especiallysturdy construction, as is also a cover means included in said receiverpart. Essentially the receiver part 32 comprises the annular body member30 which is formed of metal, having relatively thick walls which carrythe cross pin 28. The pin 28 is likewise of substantial diameter, andpasses through the thick and solid walls of the body member 30, being atits ends, welded thereto as indicated at 34, such ends and the welds 34being located in countersinks 36. Even with the presence of thecountersinks 36 an appreciable wall thickness of the body member 30remains, to carry and confine the cross pin 28 whereby the latter issecurely supported with a minimum likelihood of bending or deformation.

In accordance with the present invention, a sturdy and thick-walled,hinged cover plate 38 is provided at the upper end of the annular bodymember 3d and recessed therein, said cover plate being so constructedand mounted, in conjunction with a cooperable hinge pin, that thelikelihood of its damage or deformation under adverse conditions of useis largely obviated.

In accomplishing this, the upper end of the body member 30 is providedwith a generally annular recess 40 along its interior edge, providing astepped interior annular shoulder 42 which faces axially away from thebody member 30. Disposed in a portion of the annular recess 42 is ahinge plate 44, having pintle-receiving portions 46 disposed on andbacked by said interior annular shoulder 42. Also disposed in a part ofthe recess 40 is the cover plate 38, resting on and backed by portionsof the interior annular shoulder 42 and by additional support means orpad shortly to be described.

The cover plate 38 has a pintle-receiving portion 48 which is alignedwith and disposed between the pintlereceiving portions 46 of the hingeplate. A hinge pintle 50 extends through said pintle-receiving portionsand pivotally secures the cover plate 38 to the hinge plate 44.

Preferably the cover plate 38 is formed of a metal casting, and the sameis true of the hinge plate 44. Referring to FIGS. and 6, the hinge plate44 is preferably of arcuate configuration, having a crescent-shaped basep rtion 52 provided with screw holes 54 to receive machine screws 56,'58 which are threaded into the heavy Wall section of the annularreceiver body member 30 as illustrated in FIG. 2. It will be noted thatthe base portion 52 of the hinge plate 44 is fully supported by theinternal shoulder 42 of the receiver body 30, and that except for thepintle-portions 46 of the hinge plate it is flush with the uppermostouter edge portion 60 of the body 30. Accordingly, a sturdy anchorage isprovided for the hinge plate as well as a strong, unyielding backingwhich effects, in conjunction with the coverage afforded by the raisedouter edge portion 60 of the body member, a large measure of protectionpreventing the likelihood of damage or deformation.

The cast metal cover plate 38 rests on the base portion 52 of the hingeplate, as well as on the internal shoulder 42 of the body member 30.Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the'body member 30 has a strike pad or block62 disposed in a deep interior recess 64 located opposite .4 the hingeplate 44 and communicating with the annular recess 40 in the bodymember. A fastening screw 66 secures the strike pad 62 in place, and thelatter is adapted to engage and support the underside of the cover plate38 when the plate is in the closed position shown in FIG. 1, thereby toadditionally reinforce the said plate.

On each side of the strike pad or block 62, the body member 30 has apair of spaced-apart deep interior recesses 68 also located remote fromthe hinge plate 44 and communicating with the annular recess 40. In thespacedapart recesses 68 spring clips 70 are carried, secured in place bymachine screws 72 threaded into the wall of the annular body member 30.The spring clips 70 cooperate with notched detent lugs 74 provided onthe underside of the cover plate 38 as clearly seen in FIG. 4, wherebythe cover plate is yieldably held in the closed position and may beswung therefrom through a are to the open position shown by the brokenoutline in FIG. 2. A clearance flat 76 is provided on the cover plate 38opposite the hinge portion 48 thereof to enable a sharp tool to beinserted between the cover plate and the upper rim portion 60 of thebody member for the purpose of prying open the cover plate when it isdesired to accommodate the plug part 10 in the receiver part 32.

The body part 30 is shown as mounted in a deck plate 78, and may besecured thereto by a welding fillet 80, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4.The bottom end of the body member 30 may be partially closed by a squareor rectangular bottom plate 82 which does not completely close over thebore of the body member, but instead leaves drain openings 84 as clearlyseen in FIG. 3.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that I have provided anovel and improved, extremely rugged and sturdy socket-type receivermember or part for a separable fastener device, which part is ofrelatively simple construction, involving few components that may beeconomically fabricated and assembled. The receiver part has an openablecover assemblage which is well protected by the body member of thereceiver part, said assemblage being also so constructed and organizedas to resist damage, breakage, deformation and malfunctioning. Thereceiver part is'relatively small and compact, and is particularlyadapted for use under adverse conditions.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims,and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A receiver part for a separable fastener device of theplug-and-socket type, comprising in combination:

(a) an annular body member,

(b) a cross pin anchored in said body member, wherein the improvementcomprises:

(c) one end of said body member having an annular recess along itsinterior edge, providing an interior annular shoulder which is normal tothe axis of the body member and which faces axially away from the bodymember, said body member having at said recess an annular wall facingradially inward,

(d) a hinge plate disposed in a part of said recess,

(e) said plate having a pintle-receiving portion disposed on and backedby said interior annular shoulder which faces axially, and having anarcuate edge engaged with portions of said annular Wall which faceradially inward, thereby to nest the hinge plate and providemultiple-direction backing therefor,

(f) a cover plate disposed in a part of said recess, said cover plateresting on and being backed by said interior annular shoulder, which isnormal to the axis of the body member,

(g) said cover plate having a pintle-receiving portion aligned with thepintle-receiving portion of the hinge plate, and

(h) a hinge pintle passing through said pintle-receiving portions.

2. A receiver part as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said hinge plate and cover plate are substantially flush with theend of the body member.

3. A receiver part as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said hinge plate has an additional pintle-receiving portion spacedfrom the first-mentioned pintle-receiving portion,

(b) both said portions of the hinge plate being disposed on oppositesides of the pintle-receiving portion of the cover plate.

4. A receiver part as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said body member has a pair of spaced-apart deep interior recessesdisposed remote from the said hinge plate and communicating with saidannular recess,

(b) spring clips carried by the body member in the deep interiorrecesses thereof, and

(c) detent lugs on the under side of the cover plate, engageable withsaid spring clips to yieldably hold the cover plate in the closedposition extending across the said one end of the body member.

5. A receiver part as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said body member has a deep interior recess disposed opposite thesaid hinge plate and communicating with said annular recess, and

(b) a strike pad disposed in said deep recess and cooperable with thecover plate to position the latter, when closed, flush with the end ofthe body member.

6. A receiver part as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said hinge plate has an arc-uate base portion disposed in saidannular recess and resting on said annular shoulder,

(b) said cover plate when in the closed position in part resting on saidbase portion of the hinge plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,362,206 12/1920 Ward 339 44 X1,573,194 2/1926 Roe 4950 X 3,117,157 3/1965 Loughlin 4940O X 3,253,3105/1966 McCarthy.

3,263,638 8/1966 Cressman 114-53 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,063,674 8/1959Germany.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner.

